We do this by loving and serving one another, our neighborhood, and our city. We’ve been serving the Creston neighborhood for ninety years. We partner with Immanuel Lutheran Church to provide preschool and day school through ISJ Academy.
What We Believe
We believe in one God who reveals Himself as three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe that God is the Creator of the vast universe, including all living creatures on earth. God creates all people in His image. God creates all people to be unique and gifted. Because God is the Author of human life, we honor that person from the moment of conception to natural death. We trust that God provides for our daily needs.
We believe that all creation, including God’s human creation, has been corrupted by sin. Sin is like a deadly virus that we inherit from our parents. Our inherited sin separates us from God. Our sin means that we are born dead in our sin and unable to make ourselves believe in God. Our inherited sin causes us to act and think in ways that are contrary to God’s will. Unless God intervenes in our life before we die, we will be dead forever.
We believe God loves all people and desires that they have a relationship with Him while they live on earth and forever after their death. God knew the only way He could rescue people from the curse of sin and its eternal consequences was to send His Son, Jesus, to this world to suffer and die in our place. And, that’s what God’s Son did! Jesus lived a perfect life that we could never live. Jesus endured God’s wrath and punishment for our sin when He died on the cross of Calvary. Jesus was buried in a tomb and was dead for three days, but He rose from the dead, showing Himself to hundreds of people! Jesus promises that everyone who trusts in Him is forgiven for their sin and have His promise of living with Him forever in heaven!
We believe God, the Holy Spirit, forms a personal relationship with us when we are baptized. Baptism is a rite where our pastor pours water on an infant, child or adult and says, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” What happens at that moment is that God, the Father, adopts us into His family and we become His children. Our sins are forgiven. The Holy Spirit lives in our hearts and God promises that when we die, we will live with Him forever.
We believe God reveals Himself to us in the Bible. The Bible is filled with stories, poetry, and songs that tell us of God’s love for all people and specially, how God’s Son, Jesus came to this world to rescue us!
We invite you to contact us to learn more about the Christian faith.
Want to Learn More About Jesus?
Pastor would love to chat with you, over cup of coffee (or your choice of beverage!) about the Christian faith or another personal matter. Give him a call (616-363-7718) or email him at: glenn.schaeffer@stjamesgr.com.